#madison001

@sparksandsmoke​:

[For a split second, Maddie hesitates. Candy from strangers, and all that. Then she decides that she’s not going to get a better offer tonight, and she’d rather not fall asleep until the sun is peeking through the curtains. Maddie grabs an empty mug and the box of dry creamer and sits across from the woman. If they’re going halvsies, she might as well make her half taste good. On second thought, she adds a few of those calorie-free sugar packets. The English are strict about sugar in their tea. The Scottish, not so much.] Thanks.

[Between long, savory sips of her lukewarm coffee, Maddie looks up at the other woman.] I could say the same thing about you. [Normally, Maddie restricts her late-night wanderings to her dorm or, sometimes, the roof. It’s not worth the trouble a walk around the grounds would bring. But tonight even the open common room space felt claustrophobic. Thick, black smoke and flames licking down every corridor had her instincts practically screaming at her to get out of there. Hopefully this wouldn’t become a habit; Maddie couldn’t afford the kind of trouble getting caught out after curfew would bring. But maybe just this once luck would throw her a bone and the woman wouldn’t rat her out.] So what’s your excuse? Insomnia? Camping out for first go at the breakfast spread? Pre-emptive walk of shame?

☞

[The company is a surprise, if a welcome one. Usually interactions in the wee hours are restricted to passing niceties, but Maddie actually joins her. If you’re going to suffer a sleepless night, Cambie has always thought it’s nicer with company -- though she’s always been too polite to ever actually wake anyone up, which is why she’d not messaged Mitch, even though she’s sure he wouldn’t mind. Knowing him, he’d probably be glad, in fact, ever the eager supporter. But for that reason, she tries not to lean on him too much. He’ll break his back lifting people up, and Cambie doesn’t want to contribute to that.

But another sleepless wanderer, that’s perfectly welcome company. It reminds Cambie of being in uni, sharing a flat with three other girls, occasionally all happening upon each other in the kitchen at 3AM and sharing cups of tea.

Maddie seems completely unphased at being caught out after hours (though it’s possible she’s unphased because she doesn’t realise Cambie is a head of house. Her youth and gentle nature make that a common occurrence). But it isn’t like Cambie was interested in docking points here, or whatever else. Clearly Maddie is a fully grown adult, capable of taking a late night walk without trouble. Cambie laughs in surprise at ‘pre-emptive walk of shame’, shaking her head.] Nothing so fun as that, I’m afraid. Just… couldn’t sleep. It’s not always easy, these days. Tell me you’ve been doing something thrilling?

@sparksandsmoke​:

[Maddie scoots over to make room for him as he settles in. Now that she’s got a good look at him, she recognizes him from their dorms. He’s got a funny name. Constantinople, Constance, something like that. He’s from out of town, anyway. His accent gives him away almost immediately. Of course, Maddie is one to talk; here her Scottish brogue marks her out like a second head. It’s not like they’re the only foreigners here, but British people certainly outnumber them. In a world as bat-shit as this, Maddie will take any solidarity she can get.]

Nah, [She teases.] If I were trying to objectify you, I’d say somethin’ that’d make your mother blush. This is paying you a compliment. [It’s not really either; she’s had enough comments of both types to know the difference. Not that the man next to her isn’t deserving of a few compliments. He’s certainly not bad looking by any means. If that’s the road Maddie ends up on tonight, she certainly won’t complain. But first, she’s got to win her money back.]

[She leans in towards him, a grin spreading over her face. The tip of a Jack of Spades peeks out of her sleeve.] You and me both. But I’ve been pulling cards all night, and I’ve got jack to show for it. I think we’re going to need Lady Luck on our side too.

[His face doesn’t twitch as she flashes the card in her sleeve -- he’d hate to give her away -- but he is very much amused. By the cheating, and by the declaration that if she were trying to objectify him, she’d say something that’d make his mother blush. He didn’t doubt that she would, either. Clearly this is a woman with an ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude. It’s something Constantin can appreciate.] 

Ah, I am not fool enough to deny a compliment from a beautiful voman. [Okay, so it’s difficult to sound smooth in a language you’re not fully fluent in. But hell, he can have fun trying. Constantin likes to lean into these moments where he can pretend that things are normal. Some things transcend cultural differences, not to mention years trapped in space. A dim bar, a game of cards, good company.] 

Ve drink to Lady Luck, then. [He clinks his glass against hers.] Cheers. May I buy you another drink? [He then slips a telepathic message into Maddie’s mind--] And on my vay to bar, I see his cards and tell you if he’s bluffing. [The ‘he’ in question is one of the men at the table that has just raised the stakes and is looking terribly pleased with himself. Constantin will have to pass him to go to the bar, and he’s sure he can glance at the cards in the man’s hand.]